Automatic separator



Jan. 17, 1967 J. RUssAK 3393,@77

AUTOMATI C SEPARATOR Filed March 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,298,077 AUTOMATIC SEPARATOR Joseph Russak, Brooklyn, N.Y. (16 Albert Drive, Monsey, N.Y. 10952) Filed Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,391 11 Claims. (Cl. 28--17) This invention relates to a machine for automatically separating joined knit fabric sections from a bolt of knit fabric.

In the manufacture of certain types of clothing, sections of a knit fabric are utilized, as for example, on the cuffs of jackets. It is customary in the weaving of the knit fabric sections to join a considerable number of such sections in edge to edge relationship by a form of cross-stitch using a sewing thread of relatively high tensile strength and normally of white color the knit sections to be rolled into a bolt for ease of handling in shipping and otherwise. When it is desired to use the individual knit sections from the bolt, they are separated from each other by pulling endwise on the thread of the cross-stitch which is of such a nature as to separate from the adjacent joined edges of `the knit sections by unravelling therefrom in a single length. Heretofore, this has been done manually, requiring the expenditure of considerable time and effort.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a machine that will receive a bolt of joined knit fabric sections of the character as above set forth to be held therein under a releasable clamping pressure and including a motoi driven reel to 'which the threads of the cross-stitches are connected, which on rotation will pull said threads from the bolt as they are wound on the reel so as to separate the knit sections from each other.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above, and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may `be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIGURE l `is a perspective view of the machine comprising my invention showing a bolt of joined knit fabric sections in position and the manner of pulling out the threads of the cross-stitches.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, FIGURE 1, showing details of the reel.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIGURE l, but employing a modified form of counterweight.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 3, showing the bolt clampling means in released position.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of part of the bolt clamping construction.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan vie'w of a plurality of knit fabric sections with the cross-stitching joining adjacent sections together.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the automatic separating machine 10 consists, essentially, of an upright frame comprising four vertical supports 12, 13, 14 and 15, arranged to define the corners of a rectangle, the lower portions of :the supports serving as legs. The supports 12, 14 and 13, l15 are connected together, respectively, at their upper ends by horizontal upper rails 16, 18 and intermediate their ends by horizontal lower rails 20, 22. Horizontal transverse bars 24, respectively connect supports 12, 13 and 14, 15 slightly below the ends of upper rails 16, 18.

31,298,077 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 Secured to the outer vertical side of each of the supports 12, 13 is a bearing bracket 28, disposed above the lower rails 20, 22 and both in horizontal axial registry. A platen 3i) positioned between the upright supports is provided on its under surface with a transverse shaft 32 fixedly mounted in `brackets 33, the ends of the shaft being carried by the `bearing brackets 28, see FIG- URE 1, such as to provide swinging movement of the platen from a horizontal position, FIGURE 1, to an inclined position, as shown in FIGURE 4; the platen 30 is of a width such as to closely t between the supports 12, 13 and of a length such `that its forward transverse edge 31 will, in the horizontal position of the platen, be close to the inner sides of the supports 14, 15 as shown in FIGURE l, while the rear portion of the platen extends beyond the supports 12, 13. Supported on the extended rear end of the platen 30 is a counterweight 34 operative for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Attached by hinges 36 to the top side of the platen 30 at its forward edge is a stop or holding plate 38, the free edge of which is adapted to engage the lower side 39 of an abutment bar 4t) to hold the platen 30 in its operative horizontal position against the action of the counter-'weight 34. In the inoperative position of the platen 30, the stop plate 3S is swung back to lie against the platen 30, whereupon under the action of the counterweight 34 the platen 3i) will swing up.

It is to be noted that FIGURE 3 illustrates a modified form of counter-weight. In this case, there is no rear extension of the platen, and the counter-weight consists of a weight 42 connected by a cable 43 to the platen 30 and panel over a pulley 44. In each case, the counterweights serve the same purpose and are fully equivalent of each other.

Beneath the platen 30 is positioned a vertically movable platform 48 provided with cut-out corners 49, each receiving an associated one of the upright supports 12, 13, 14 and 15, see FIGURE 1, and FIGURE 5. The platform 48 is suspended from the transverse bars 24, 25 by four tension coil springs 50, there Ibeing one at each corner of the platform. The four springs 5t) exert an upward pul-l on the platform 48.

Suitably movably connected to the underside of platform 48 are a pair of longitudinally spaced depending pull rods 52. Extending between upright supports 13, 15 is a bar 54, the ends of which are secured in brackets 56 connected to the lo'wer ends of said upright supports 13, 15. A pair of treadle arms 58 each having a bearing 60 at the inner end thereof, are pivotally mounted on the bar 54, and to each treadle arm is respectively suitably movably connected as at 6.2, the lower end of a pull rod 52. The forward ends 63 of the treadle arms 58 extend outwardly beyond the upright supports 12, 14, and attached to said forward ends 63 is a treadle 64.

It is to be noted that the springs 50 each comprise an upper hook portion 50a and a lower shank portion 50h, and that the two coil springs 50 attached to transverse bar 24 each has its shank portion Sllb disposed between a side edge of the platen 31B and the opposed side of the adjacent upright support as shown in FIGURE 1.

Extending outwardly of the upright supports 14, 1S and secured thereto is a shelf-frame 71B` shown in horizontal align-ment with the lower rails 20, 22 and embodying side members 71, 72, end cross members 73, and braces 74. A power driven reel Sit] is mounted on the shelf-frame 70. The reel 8l? consists of a bar 82 having co-axial trunnions 83, 84, see FIGURE 2t. The trunnion 83 is rotatably supported in a bearing bracket 86 mounted on the shelf-frame side member 71. The other trunnion 84 is secured to the head 8S of a drive shaft 89. An electrie motor coupled to a reduction gearing 91 delivers power to the drive shaft 89, the electric motor 90 being controlled by a switch 92. The electric motor 90' is suitably supported on the other shelf-frame side member 72, 'see FIGURE 1.

The hereinabove described machine operates on a -bolt 100 of joined knit falbric sections as Will be hereinafter described. Referring to FIGURE 6, there is shown a fragmentary length of the bolt 100, which is seen to be made up of like sections 102 of a knit fabric. The sections 102 are each of rectangular form placed in edge to edge relationship with the edges 103, 104 joined together by a form of cross-stitch 105 using a thread 106 of a contrasting readily visible color (generally white), and of high tensile strength. The nature of the cross-stitch 105 is such that the same will readily unravel by an. endwise pull on the thread 106. The cross-stitc-h 105 is well known in the art, and forms no part of this invention. In the manufacture of the knit sections 102, they are joined together as described and rolled into the shape of the at bolt 100.

To separate the knit fabric sections 102 from eac-h other inthe bolt 100, the bolt is placed on the platform 4-8 which is depressed by the foot of the operator acting on the treadle 64, see FIGURE 4; the platform 48 being made accessible by initial release of the stop plate 38 from the abutment bar 40 such as to cause the counterweight to elevate the platen 30. With the platen 30 in raised inoperative position, the platform 48 is exposed and free to receive thereon the ibolt 100. The bolt 100 is placed on the platform 48 so that the end with the exposed ends of threads 106 is positioned beyond the terminal end of the platen30 carrying the stop plate 38, see FIGURES 1 and 3. Holding the platform 48 depressed, the platen 30 is moved down to horizontal position and locked in place by turning up the stop plate 38 into engagement with the abutment bar 40. On release of the treadle 64 by the operator, the platform 48 will be moved upwardly by the springs 50 to pressure clamp the bolt 100 to the platen 30. When so clamped in position the free ends of the threads 106 are connected to the bar 82 of the reel 80, the bar 82 being provided with pins 110 to Afacilitate winding of the threads thereon as well as to prevent tangling thereof. With the motor 90 turned on, rotation of the bar 82 will exert a uniform pull on the multiple threads 106 to wind the same on the reel as the crossstitches 105 are each unravelled.

During this vunravelling of the cross-stitches 105, it is to be appreciated that the bolt 100 is held under a resilient clamping pressure lbetween platform 48 and platen 30, that is uniform at all points, and thus prevents puckering or gathering of the cross-stitches as the threads 106 are pulled and Wound on the reel. When the cross-stitches 105 are completely unravelled, the knit fabric sections 102 are thus separated. Action on the treadle 64 will depress the platform to permit release of the stop plate 38 to allow the platen 30 to swing up out of the way so as to permit removal of the separated knit fabric sections 102.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A machine for automatically separating knit fabric sections of a bolt wherein adjacent sections are joined edgewise Iby a cross-stitch that is unravelled by endwise pull on the thread of the cross-stitch comprising:

(a) a vertical frame structure constituted by two pairs of longitudinally spaced upright supports,

(b) means connecting said upright supports in spaced vparallel relation,

(c) a movable platen positioned between said pairs of upright supports,

(d) means pivotally mounting said platen on one pair of said upright supports for swinging movement from an operative horizontal position to an inclined inoperative position,

(e) a xed abutment carriedby the other pair of said upright supports,

(f) lock means on said platen engageable with said fixed abutment for holding said platen in its horizontal position,

(g) a counterweight connected to said platen for moving the same to its inclined position on release of said lock means,

(h) a movaible platform positioned between said pairs of upright supports beneath said platen,

(i) pressure exerting means supporting said platform on said upright supports and operative to move said platform towards said platen whereby to pressure clamp therebetween a bolt of joined knit fabric sections, and

(j) rotating reel means mounted on said frame structure forwardly of said other pair of upright supports for connection thereto of the threads of said crossstitches whereby on rotation of said reel means said threads will each be subjected to a pull to cause unravelling of the cross-stitches to effect separation of the knit fabric sections joined thereby.

2. rl`he machine of claim 1, lwherein said lock means comprises:

(a) a stop plate, and

(b) hinge means connecting said stop plate to the end -of said platen adjacent said other pair of upright supports, whereby said stop plate will engage said fixed abutment when swung into a position substantially normal to said platen.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said pressure exerting means comprises:

(a) spring means at each end of said platform connecting said platform to said upright supports andsupporting the same in horizontal position.

4. The machine 4of claim 3, including (a) a shelf-frame on said other upright supports and projecting outwardly therefrom coextensive with said platen and platform, and said reel means comprising:

(b) an electric motor including reduction gearing for rotating a drive shaft supported on said shelf-frame,

(c) a bearing bracket on said shelf-frame in axially opposed relation to said drive shaft,

(d) a reel `bar having one end rotatably supported in said bearing bracket and its other end connected to said drive shaft, and

(e) `a row of spaced radially extending separating pins fixed to said reel bar.

5. The machine of claim 4, including (a) manually operated lever means pivotally connected to said frame structure, and

(b) frod means movably connected to said platform `and to said lever means, whereby movement of said lever means in one direction will effect a downward movement of said platform against the action of said spring means.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein (a) said manually operated lever means is a foot operated treadle.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein (a) said platform is rectangular in shape and said pressure exerting means comprises:

(b) a like tension coil spr-ing at each corner of said platform, each coil spring having (c) an upper hook portion, and

(d) a lower shank portion connected to a corresponding corner of said platform,

(e) said upper hook portions being connected to a fixed part -of said frame structure, and

(f) said shank portions of the tension coil springs at the opposed corners of said platform vadjacent said one pair `of upright supports straddling sai-d platen.

8. The machine of claim 7, including (a) a pair of lever arms ipivotally mounted on said frame structure below said platform,

(b) a foot operated treadle secured to said lever arms,

and

(c) rod means movably connected to each lever arm and to said platform.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein (a) said fixed part of said frame structures consists of `a transverse -bar connecting the opposed upright supports of each pair, and

(b) said hook portions of each pair of tension coil springs at one end of said platform being attached to a corresponding transverse bar.

10. The machine of claim 1, including (a) a rearward extension on said platen, and

6 (b) said counter-weight being mounting directly on the free terminal end of said rearward extension. 11. The machine of claim 1, wherein said counterweight comprises (a) a pulley on said frame structure,

(b) a weight, and

(c) a cable trained over said pulley connected at one end to said weight and at its other end to said platen.

References Cited by the Examiner MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATING KNIT FABRIC SECTIONS OF A BOLT WHEREIN ADJACENT SECTIONS ARE JOINED EDGEWISE BY A CROSS-STITCH THAT IS UNRAVELLED BY ENDWISE PULL ON THE THREAD OF THE CROSS-STITCH COMPRISING: (A) A VERTICAL FRAME STRUCTURE CONSTITUTED BY TWO PAIRS OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED UPRIGHT SUPPORTS, (B) MEANS CONNECTING SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORTS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION, (C) A MOVABLE PLATEN POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF UPRIGHT SUPPORTS, (D) MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID PLATEN ON SAID PAIR OF SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORTS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM AN OPERATIVE HORIZONTAL POSITION TO AN INCLINED INOPERATIVE POSITION, (E) A FIXED ABUTMENT CARRIED BY THE OTHER PAIR OF SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORTS, (F) LOCK MEANS ON SAID PLATEN ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIXED ABUTMENT FOR HOLDING SAID PLATEN IN ITS HORIZONTAL POSITION, 